China just started an anti-dumping investigation into POM copolymers, a type of industrial plastic that comes from the US, EU, Taiwan, and Japan. The plastics listed can be used instead of metals like copper and zinc and are suitable for making car parts, electronics, and medical gear.
The investigation is supposed to end in a year, but it could go on for another six months if the results and schedule don’t meet expectations. The European Commission is in charge of EU trade policy. They said they would look over the investigation’s findings before deciding what to do next.
“We expect China to make sure that this investigation is fully in line with all relevant WTO (World Trade Organization) rules and obligations,” a spokesperson said.
China’s investigation could make a trade deal with the US and Europe even more tense than it already is. The US has just put higher taxes on computer chips, medical goods, EVs from China, and other goods that come from that country.
The European Union just started looking into imports of tinplate steel from China. This is the latest study into trade between China and the EU. The European Commission also started looking into how China makes its electric vehicles (EVs), which would let them sell them for less money and beat out other EV manufacturers.
Beijing has fought back against the investigations and the US by saying that other countries aren’t at risk because of China’s production and that the US is “misguided.” They think they aren’t doing anything wrong.
